Mules Fend Off PSU Men Down the Stretch - KOAM TV 7

Mules Fend Off PSU Men Down the Stretch

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Kaleb Porter led four Pitt State players in double figures with 16 points, but that was not enough as the Gorillas fell by a score of 80-73 to Central Missouri Saturday (Jan. 12) at the UCM Multipurpose Building.

The loss dropped Pitt State to 11-3 overall and 4-2 in MIAA play while UCM moved to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA.

After a back and forth first half that saw 16 lead changes and nine ties the Gorillas headed into the break with a 42-39 advantage.

The two sides continued trading buckets late into the second half as Central Missouri held a 75-71 lead with 2:14 to play after a layup by Marky Nolen. That would prove to be as close as the Gorillas would get as JaVon McGee missed two free throws down the stretch forcing Pitt State to send Central Missouri to the free-throw line where the Mules were able to put the game out of reach.

McGee and Rico Pierrevilus finished with 12 points each and Pierrevilus finished with a game-high 10 rebounds. Courtney Ingram rounded out the double-digit scorers for Pitt State with 10 points. Porter also finished with four assists, four rebounds and two steals.

The Gorillas finished the game shooting 40.7% (24-59) from the field, including 25% (4-16) from behind the three-point line. They also shot 72.4% (21-29) from the free-throw line. The Mules finished shooting 45.3% (29-64) from the field and 35.7% (5-14) from distance. From the charity stripe UCM converted 17-of-31 (54.8%).

For the Mules, Widgett Washington paced the team with a game-high 22 points.

The game ended with 17 lead changes and 12 ties.

Pittsburg State will wrap up its three-game road trip Wednesday (Jan. 16) when the Gorillas travel to Joplin, Mo., to face Missouri Southern. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (CST) at MSSU's Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.